Dental impressions



Aug. 5, 1958 M. GORDON 2,845,708

DENTAL IMPRESSIONS Filed Jan. 23. 1957 FIG.2

INVENTOR.

MAX GORDON United States Patent DENTAL IMPRESSIONS Max Gordon, Kew Gardens, N. Y.

Application January 23, 1957, Serial No. 635,827

9 Claims. (Cl. 3219) This invention relates to apparatus for making dental impressions.

An object of this invention is to provide in apparatus of the character described means which will permit obtaining cushioned impressions and for controlling both hard and soft tissues.

Another object of this invention isto provide an apparatus of the character described which can be raised or lowered according to the degree of the opening of the patients mouth.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described having means to receive the tongue of'the patient while the impression is being taken, said apparatus being so constructed so as not to cut the patients tongue.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a highly improved apparatus of the character described comprising a base shaped to the mandible so as to rest on a lower tray fitted over the lower jaw.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described which may become embedded in the compound on the upper and lower trays so as to provide for vertical pressure as the impression is taken, the construction being such as to provide uniform vertical pressure throughout the impression area.

Yet a further object of' this invention is to provide an improved apparatus of the character described having means to control the movable tissue while the impression is being taken and which will prevent mobility of the impression sideways, forward or rearward while the impression is being taken, said apparatus being so constructed as to register the physical pressure of the patient to the impression being taken.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a strong, rugged and durable apparatus of the character described, which shall be easy to adjust and manipulate, comfortable and safe to use, which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture and yet practical and eflicient to a high degree.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of invention will be indicated in the following claims:

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-sectionalview of the apparatus embodying the invention illustrating the manner of its use when taking a dental impression;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view taken along line 2--2 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, designates apparatus embodying the invention. The same comprises a base plate 11 which is flat and horse-shoe shaped. Fixed to the upper side of the plate 11 in any suitable manner, and extending upwardly therefrom is a block 2,845,708 Patented Aug. 5, 1958 12 formed with a vertical blind opening 13 extending down from the upper end of' the block. Screwed within said opening 13 is a screw 14. The upper end of the screw is fixed in any suitable manner, within an opening 15 in the bottom wall 16 of a curved shaped plate 17.

Extendingrearwardly and downwardly from the rear end of the bottom wall 16, are a pair of transversely curved lips 18, a notch 19 being formed between said lips. Extending forwardly from the bottom wall 16 is an upwardly bent back or curved portion 20, from which extends rearwardly, a somewhat upwardly inclined wall 21. Thus, between the wall 16 and 20 is formed a space or chamber 22 for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

It will now be observed that upon rotating the plate 17 in one direction it will. rise in height and upon rotating plate 17 in the opposite direction it will lower.

Fig. 1 illustrates the lowermost position of the plate 17 relative to the base 11 and block 12. In such position, wall 16 rests on the upper surface of the block 12.

The manner of using the apparatus to take an impression will now be described;

A metal tray 30 is used in taking the impression for the upper denture. Red compound is placed in the tray as designated by numeral 31. After the impression tray is approximately filled, a little is scraped with a knife to allow the wax'to be used. This wax is preferably a physiological wax which melts at body temperature. A thin layer of this wax is put on the compound as indicated at 32. When taking an upper impression, a shellac tray 33 is placed in the mouth to cover the lower jaw. A small amount of compound is placed on the top of the lower tray as indicated at 34. A small amount of the compound is also placed on the underside of the upper tray as designated at 35. The base. plate 11. is placed on the compound34 to. rest on the lower shellac.

tray 33' so that itwillhave a definite seating in the compound 34'; The top wall 2'1 will become seated in the compound 35 at the underside of'theupper tray 30.

Compound 31 and wax 32 may be inserted into the upper tray 30' after a definite seating is established between the device 10' and the upper and lower trays; The wax 32 may be slightly warmed. After the upper tray is placed into position on the upper jaw, the device 10 may be placed in the patients mouth, taking its definite seat which was established on both the upper and lower trays. The patient then clamps down, forcing the upper impression into its position. That is, an impression is taken in the wax on the upper tray. As the patient is clamping down, the wax is conforming itself, bringing out the necessary impression of the upper mouth, and the tissues are placing themselves in the wax.

The advantage of this apparatus and method of making impressions is that the patient produces his own physical pressure into the impression, due to the fact that the wax is a physiological wax, which means that it melts with body temperature. The apparatus is allowed to remain in the patients mouth for about five minutes, allowing the floating loose tissue to place itself in the impression. After about three to five minutes of pressure, the upper tray is chilled with cold water and then removed. The advantages of this apparatus and process is that the apparatus controls the loose floating tissue while the impression is being taken, and permits the impression of such tissue in the wax. Furthermore, the plate 17 can be rotated and thus raised or lowered according to the degree of opening of the patients mouth.

The tongue of the patient is received in the space or chamber 22 between the top lip 21 and bottom wall 16, thereby controlling the tongue and muscles of the lower jaw while the impression is being taken. It will be noted that the lower part of the adjustable member, that is,

the downwardly curved bent lips 18, will not cut the tongue, as it afiords a smooth surface of contact with the tongue. The base 11 is shaped to the mandible, being horseshoe shaped, and will rest on the compound on the lower tray which is also horse-shoe shaped. It will be noted that the upper lip 21 will become embedded in the compound 35 centrally, so as to provide for vertical pressure as the impression is being taken. The de vice 17 will produce uniform vertical pressure throughout the impression area. It will be noted that this apparatus controls the movable tissue while the impression is being taken, and does not allow mobility of the impression sideways, forward or rearward while the impression is being taken.

The upper lip is tilted upwardly and rearwardly somewhat to the natural position of the jaw.

With the use of this apparatus, pressure of the dentists thumb as heretofore used, does not have to be relied upon. Such manipulation by the dentist can exert more pressure to one side or the other, whereas with the present apparatus, the pressure is uniform throughout; Also, with this apparatus, the patient registers his own physical pressure. When the denture is placed in the mouth, the natural pressure of the lower jaw will be the same as when the impression was made.

The device may be made in three sizes for difierent size mouths. Also, it can be made of metal, plastic, or any suitable material.

The impression of the lower jaw is taken exactly in the same manner as for the upper. The patients tongue can stay in place within the space 22 until the apparatus is removed from the mouth.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for taking dental impressions, comprising a base adapted to pressdown on a lower dental tray,

placed over the lower jaw, means on said base for pressing up against an upper dental tray placed on the upper jaw, and provided with a tongue receiving means.

2. The combination of claim 1, said base being horseshoe shaped.

3. Apparatus for taking dental impressions comprising a base to press down on a lower dental tray placed over the lower jaw, and means having a recess to receive the patients tongue mounted on the base for vertical adjustment and being provided with means to press up against the underside of an upper dental tray placed on the upper jaw.

4. Apparatus for taking dental impressions comprising a horseshoe shaped base to press down on a lower dental tray placed over the lower jaw, and means having a recess to receive the patients tongue mounted on the base for vertical adjustment and being provided with means to press up against the underside of an upper dental tray placed on the upper jaw.

5. Apparatus for taking dental impressions comprising a base, a block on said base having a screw threaded opening extending down from its upper end, a screw screwed to said opening, and a plate fixed to said screw and having a tongue receiving space, and means to press against the underside of an upper dental tray. 6. Apparatus for taking dental impressions comprising a base, a plate mounted on said base for vertical adjustment and having a bottom wall, a curved wall extending from the front end of said bottom wall and a top lip extending rearwardly from said curved wall and overlying said bottom wall.

7. The combination of claim 6, and a rearwardly and downwardly curved lip extending from the rear end of said bottom wall.

8. The combination of claim 7, said top lip being widened upwardly and rearwardly.

9. The combination of claim 8, said base being horseshoe shaped.

, References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

